Oral Staphylococcus Species and MRSA Strains in Patients with Orofacial Clefts Undergoing Surgical Rehabilitation Diagnosed by MALDI-TOF MS

This study investigated the occurrence and dynamics of oral Staphylococcus species in patients with orofacial clefts undergoing surgical rehabilitation treatment. Patients (n = 59) were statistically stratified and analyzed (age, gender, types of orofacial clefts, surgical history, and types of previous surgical rehabilitation). Salivary samples were obtained between hospitalization and the return to the specialized medical center. Microbiological diagnosis was performed by classical methods, and MALDI-TOF MS. MRSA strains (SCCmec type II, III, and IV) were characterized by the Decision Tree method. A total of 33 (55.9%) patients showed oral staphylococcal colonization in one, two, or three sampling steps. A high prevalence has been reported for S. aureus (including HA-, MRSA and CA-MRSA), followed by S. saprophyticus, S. epidermidis, S. sciuri, S. haemolyticus, S. lentus, S. arlettae, and S. warneri. The dynamics of oral colonization throughout surgical treatment and medical follow-up may be influenced by (i) imbalances in staphylococcal maintenance, (ii) efficiency of surgical asepsis or break of the aseptic chain, (iii) staphylococcal neocolonization in newly rehabilitated anatomical oral sites, and (iv) total or partial maintenance of staphylococcal species. The highly frequent clinical periodicity in specialized medical and dental centers may contribute to the acquisition of MRSA in these patients.